Papers of C. Kenneth Archer

• Minutes, resolutions, correspondence, etc. relating to the Convention ofAssociations, 1920-c1935
• Resolutions passed at an Unofficial Conference on Constitutional Advance, held in Nairobi, 1933
• Papers relating to the Kenya Association and the Delamere Memorial Committee, including copies ofnewspaper reports concerning the union of East Africa, [1932-1937]
• Minutes, reports, correspondence, etc. relating to the Indian Question, 1919-1935
• Reports and statistics concerning cotton growing in the British Empire, with correspondence relating to a visit to London by a delegation from Kenya to discuss the position of Indians in Kenya with the Secretary of State for the Colonies, 1920-1923
• Minutes, reports, correspondence, news cuttings, etc. relating to sub-committees of the Electors' Union, 1944-1952
• Miscellaneous papers, 1922-1944

Charles Kenneth Archer (1886-1965) began his professional life as a solicitor,and after practising in Newcastle upon Tyne for some years, was admitted asan advocate in Nairobi, Kenya in 1915. During the First World War he served inthe King's African Rifles. After the war he became manager of a coffee plantationnear Thika, Kenya. In 1919 he moved to Ruiru, where he remained for severalyears. At the same time he became extensively involved in Kenyan affairs,taking the chair and/or presidency of the Convention of Associations,1921-1930, 1932-1936, the Kenya Settlement Committee, 1922-1925, theRuiru Farmers'Association, 1921-1935, The Coffee Planters' Union of Kenya,1925-1930 and the Kabete District Association, 1938-1948; he was alsoVice-Chairman of the Kenya Association, 1932-1950. In 1923 he was appointed as one of themembers of a deputation from Kenya which visited London to discuss the position of Indiansin Kenya with the Secretary of State for the Colonies. He was also appointedCommissioner of the East Africa Pavilion of the Empire Exhibition inJohannesburg, 1936-1937, after which he resumed legal practice and settledat Kabete. He retired in 1955. In 1927 he married Ruth Maud Davis, with whomhe had two sons.

Bodleian reader's ticket required.

Collection level description created by Paul Davidson, Bodleian Library ofCommonwealth and African Studies at Rhodes House.

A handlist is available in the library reading room.

No reproduction or publication of personal papers without permission. Contact the library in the first instance.

Private papers as Kenya settler, c1921-1949 are housed at the library. The library also holds minutes, correspondence, administrative papers, etc. of the Convention of Associations, 1918-1932, 1957-1963 (ref. MSS. Afr. s. 594), and articles, minutes, correspondence, etc. of Cedric Owen Oates as Chairman of the Convention of Associations, 1950-1972 (ref. MSS. Afr. s. 1950).